Stuart Scott Rogers (18 March 1923 – 6 November 1969) played first-class cricket for Somerset and captained the side from 1950 to 1952.
After one first-class appearance in India in 1946–47, he joined Somerset as an amateur player in 1948, appearing in seven matches but making little impact.
At the end of the 1949 season, George Woodhouse, the Somerset captain, retired to the family brewery business. Somerset, who had struggled through 1948 under a series of temporary captains, were not keen to repeat the experience. Rogers was the only available amateur willing to commit to a full season, and was duly appointed captain for 1950.
Rogers captained Somerset for three seasons of mixed fortunes. The 1950 season saw the side finish equal seventh in the Championship, and eight victories were exceeded by only three teams
Rogers’ second season as Somerset captain, 1951, was more difficult than the first. Rogers made only 784 runs in Championship games with a top score of 58, although his season average and total was improved by an unbeaten 107 in 160 minutes against the South African touring team.This was to prove his highest score in first-class cricket. With both batting and bowling inadequacies, Somerset dropped back to 14th in the Championship, with only five victories and 15 defeats.
Worse followed in 1952 and Somerset fell to the bottom of the Championship table for the first time since 1913. At the end of the season he stood down from the captaincy, and though he appeared again in nine matches in 1953, he was not successful and left first-class cricket.
Photo from SCCC Players, Photographs and Statistics – available in the Museum and Library
You must be logged in to post a comment.